Melissa Avina
Melissa Avina
(she/her/ella)
Frequently rebooked
New clients continue care with this provider
Hi, I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California. I support women who feel stuck in unfulfilling relationship patterns, carry the weight of childhood wounds like feeling unseen or not enough, and are exhausted from trying to hold it all together. My purpose is to help you heal your past, build self-trust, and feel empowered to create the life and relationships you deserve. With a warm, compassionate approach, we’ll explore what’s been holding you back and work to break free from old patterns. Together, we’ll strengthen your emotional tools and deepen your sense of worth, guiding you toward a more connected, confident, and fulfilling life.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, what you can expect: ❊ A warm, supportive space where you can feel at ease ❊ An overview of therapy basics, like confidentiality and what to expect ❊ A gentle conversation about what’s bringing you in and what you hope to gain ❊ An open space to share anything that feels important at your own pace ❊ A collaborative approach to explore what matters most to you ❊ In the second session, we’ll start shaping your goals to guide our work together Our first session is about getting to know each other in this therapeutic relationship and beginning to lay the foundation for your healing journey.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to connect with clients in a real and authentic way because I’ve lived many of the same struggles. Like many of the women I support, I was stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, anxiety, and unresolved family wounds, always trying to be “enough.” My own healing journey showed me how powerful therapy can be when you’re given a safe, compassionate space to explore what’s really going on beneath the surface. You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to break old patterns, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’ll work together to uncover what’s holding you back and build tools to help you: ❊ Set healthy boundaries ❊ Understand and process your emotions ❊ Build more fulfilling relationships ❊ Reconnect with your true, authentic self My approach blends attachment-based, somatic, and holistic techniques, always personalized to your needs, so you can begin creating the life you want and deserve.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I specialize in working with women who are self-aware, capable, and hardworking, but underneath it all, are tired of holding it together. I work with women who: ❊ Struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling “not enough” ❊ Put everyone else first and feel guilty asking for what they need ❊ Get stuck in people-pleasing, perfectionism, or overthinking ❊ Feel the impact of attachment wounds or unresolved family issues ❊ Crave a deeper connection in relationships, and with themselves If this sounds like you, know that you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep carrying it all by yourself. Therapy with me is a space to breathe, feel seen, and gently untangle the patterns holding you back so you can move forward with clarity, confidence, and care for yourself.
About Melissa Avina
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Attachment-based
I use an attachment-based approach to help you explore and understand how your past (early relationships, especially with caregivers) is shaping your present, especially in how you connect with others and yourself, cope, and care for yourself. This approach is especially helpful if you: ❊ Struggle with self-doubt, low self-esteem, or people-pleasing ❊ Feel anxious or avoidant or disconnected in relationships ❊ Carry pain from mother or father wounds ❊ Notice recurring patterns in how you cope, connect, or seek validation Together, we’ll gently explore where those patterns come from and begin to rewrite them. Over time, you’ll learn to: ❊ Build secure, healthy relationships ❊ Feel more confident and emotionally balanced ❊ Set boundaries without guilt ❊ Reconnect with your sense of self-worth and trust yourself again You don’t have to stay stuck in old patterns. Healing and growth are possible, and it starts with understanding your story.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
You already carry the wisdom you need to heal. My role is to help you access it with care and support. Person-centered therapy offers a space where you feel fully seen, heard, and accepted, maybe for the first time. This approach is especially helpful if you: ❊ Struggle with self-doubt or low self-worth ❊ Tend to people-please or over-perform ❊ Feel disconnected from your needs or voice ❊ Question your value or worth in relationships There’s no pressure and instead of focusing on what you "should", we’ll explore your thoughts, emotions, and patterns with curiosity, not judgment. Through this process, you’ll learn to: ❊ Trust yourself and your inner voice ❊ Set boundaries with more confidence ❊ Release perfectionism and self-criticism ❊ Create a life that feels real and aligned with who you are This is your space to reconnect with your worth and begin building the life you want, not the one others expect.
Somatic
Stress and anxiety don’t just live in your mind; they live in your body, too. Somatic therapy helps you tune into your body’s signals, so you can release built-up stress and emotional pain in a safe and supported way. This approach is especially helpful if you: ❊ Feel anxious or burned out ❊ Struggle to set boundaries ❊ Put others first at your own expense ❊ Often feel stuck, tense, or disconnected from yourself Through gentle body awareness, breathwork, and mindful movement, you’ll learn to: ❊ Regulate your nervous system ❊ Feel calmer and more present ❊ Safely process emotions ❊ Reconnect with yourself Together, we’ll create space for your body and mind to heal, so you can feel more grounded, safe, and in control of your life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, I use CBT to help you recognize and shift the thought patterns that may be keeping you stuck. This approach is especially helpful if you: ❊ Struggle with overthinking, self-doubt, or anxiety ❊ Feel overwhelmed by stress or life transitions ❊ Find yourself stuck in the same negative cycles in relationships Together, we’ll work on: ❊ Identifying unhelpful thoughts and beliefs ❊ Reframing patterns that contribute to stress and insecurity ❊ Building healthier coping strategies ❊ Strengthening confidence and emotional balance CBT gives you practical tools to navigate challenges, build resilience, and feel more in control of your emotions and choices.
Narrative
I use Narrative Therapy to help you separate your identity from the problems you're facing and reconnect with your inner strength. This approach is especially helpful if you: ❊ Feel defined by past pain, trauma, or labels ❊ Struggle with self-worth or internalized criticism ❊ Want to rewrite limiting beliefs shaped by early life experiences Together, we’ll work on: ❊ Exploring and reshaping the stories you tell yourself ❊ Reclaiming your voice and values ❊ Highlighting your resilience, strengths, and progress ❊ Creating a new, more empowering narrative Narrative Therapy helps you see that your challenges are part of your story, not the whole of who you are. It’s about honoring your experiences while creating space for growth, hope, and a more authentic future.